Filling bobbin



Sept. 24, 1963 w, TURNER 3,104,852

FILLING BOBBIN Filed June 30, 1961 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. TURNER. BY fiMQ- A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,104,852 FILLING BQBBEN William E. Turner, Spartanhnrg, S.C., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed June 30, 1961, Ser. No. 121,109 2 Claims. (Ci. 242125.1)

This invention pertains to an improvement in filling bobbins used in automatic bobbin changing looms which utilize automatic loom winders and, more specifically, to an improved means for attaching the end of the filling yarn to the barrel of the bobbin for initiating the winding of a filling package thereon. Although the present invention illlustrated and described herein is shown as applied to loom bobbins, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to the various forms of textile bobbins and package carriers.

It is a general object of the invention to improve bobbins used in conjunction with automatic loom winders to insure a more positive means for initiating the formation of a filling package thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for directing and guiding the end of the filling yarn toward that point on a bobbin where the initial winding in the formation of a filling package commences.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide on the barrel of the bobbin for a portion of its length a knurled surface or a plurality of helical or circular grooves angularly directed toward the butt of the bobbin for guiding and directing the end of filling yarn to that point where initial winding of said filling begins.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

In looms utilizing automatic bobbin winders stripped bobbins are automatically oriented and presented to the winder where they are donned and then placed in position for transfer into a loom shuttle upon indication in a known manner for filling replenishment.

During the winding process, considerable difiicul-ty has been experienced in guiding and directing the end of the filling yarn to that point on the barrel of the bobbin where it is caused to be picked up in a manner Well known to those familiar with the art to commence winding of said filling thereon to form the filling package.

To correct an undesirable condition of this nature the instant invention provides a means on the barrel of the bobbin, and for a portion of its length, to guide and direct the end of filling yarn to the hook members situated about the circumference of the bobbin "butt and immediately adjacent to the barrel portion. One form this guiding and directing means may take is that of a knurled surface extending from the bobbin but-t lengthwise along the barrel portion of the bobbin for a distance of approximately /2 inch. The grooves in the barrel created as a result of the knurled surface will in efiect cause the strand of filling yarn in contact therewith to be guided and directed toward the hook member on the butt of the bobbin as the winding mechanism causes the bobbin to rotate for the purpose of renewing the filling supply thereon. A modified version of this guiding and directing means is that of providing a plurality of helical or circular grooves angularly directed toward the bobbin butt. These grooves will cover the same area on the bobbin barrel as the knurled surface and will effect the filling yarn in the same manner upon indication to the winding mechanism for another supply of filling wound on the bobbin positioned therein.

The invention will "be described hereinafter in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a bobbin showing the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing another form the invention may take.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, FIG. 1 shows a bobbin indicated generally by numeral 10 which in cludes a butt 11 and a barrel 12 extending therefrom. The butt 11 includes rings 13 for holding and positioning the bobbin within a loom shuttle as is well known to those conversant in the art. Additionally, butt 11 includes a plurality of outwardly directed hook members 14 for trapping the free end of filling yarn to initiate winding of said yarn on barrel 12 forming what is commonly known as a filling package. The hook members 14 are situated on the step portion 15 of the bobbin butt which tapers inwardly to blend with barrel 12. As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided on barrel 12 and immediately adjacent to the step portion 15 a knurled surface 16 which encircles the barrel 12 and extends for a distance of approximately /2 inch along the length thereof. The grooves provided by this knurled surface tend to direct and guide the strand of filling yarn in contact therewith toward the hook members 14 as the winding mechanism commences to rotate the bobbin to form a new filling package thereon.

FIG. 2 illustrates a modified form of the invention which consists of a plurality of angul'arly directed helical or circular grooves 17 encircling the circumference of the barrel in place of the knurled surface shown in FIG. 1 and extends along the length of the barrel from the butt a distance equal to said knurled surface. These grooves have the same effect on the filling yarn for directing and guiding it to the hook members 14.

The bobbin illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right side thereof during the winding process. Accordingly, the projecting ends of the hook members 14 visible in FIG. 2 are directed rearwardly and each groove 17 extends in the same direction, that is, it extends from adjacent the step portion 15 outwardly and in a clockwise direction around the barrel, or in a direction opposite to that in which filling is to be wound thereon. Preferably, a sufiicient number of these is provided to completely encompass the circumference of that portion of the barrel.

In operation, the automatic winder upon indication to replenish the supply of filling on a bobbin, causes the bobbin upon which said filling is to be wound to rot-ate in a known manner. Filling yarn is drawn from a suitable source of supply across and in contact with the rotating bobbin. This contact is made by the filling yarn on the knurled surface of the bobbin barrel or on the helical or circular angularly directed grooves of the modified version of the invention, which in combination with the rotating bobbin causes the strand of filling in contact therewith to be guided and directed toward the butt of the bobbin. As the filling nears the butt of the bobbin, it is caught by one or more of the outwardly projecting hook members 14 whereupon it is caused to wind around the barrel of the bobbin securing it thereto.

While one embodiment and a modification of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A filling bobbin for automatic bobbin changing (3 looms including a butt portion and a barrel extending therefrom upon which filling yarn is adapted to be wound, said butt portion being provided thereon with a plurality of outwardly projecting hook members for trapping the free end of said filling yarn to initiate winding of said yarn on said barrel, said barrel being knurled for a portion of its length and adjacent said butt for guiding said free end of filling into one of said hook members.

2. A filling bobbin for automatic bobbin changing looms including a butt portion and a barrel extending therefrom upon which filling yarn is adapted to be wound, said butt portion being provided thereon with a plurality of outwardly projecting hook members for trapping the free end of said filling yarn to initiate winding of said yarn on said barrel, a portion of the length of said barrel being provided with a series of angular-ly directed grooves at least some of said grooves extending outwardly from the butt of said bobbin in a direction opposite to that in which the filling is to be Wound thereon for guiding said UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,243,101 Kinsella May 27, 1941 2,244,492 Karns June 3, 1941 2,824,708 Higgins Feb. 25, 1958 FOREEGN PATENTS 654,317 Germany Dec. 16, 1937 360,870 Great Britain of 1 931 

1. A FILLING BOBBIN FOR AUTOMATIC BOBBIN CHANGING LOOMS INCLUDING A BUTT PORTION AND A BARREL EXTENDING THEREFROM UPON WHICH FILLING YARN IS ADAPTED TO BE WOUND, SAID BUTT PORTION BEING PROVIDED THEREON WITH A PLURALITY OF OUTWARDLY PROJECTING HOOK MEMBERS FOR TRAPPING THE FREE END OF SAID FILLING YARN TO INITIATE WINDING OF SAID YARN ON SAID BARREL, SAID BARREL BEING KNURLED FOR A PORTION OF ITS LENGTH AND ADJACENT SAID BUTT FOR GUIDING SAID FREE END OF FILLING INTO ONE OF SAID HOOK MEMBERS. 